2 Independence County inmates recaptured BATESVILLE (AP) — Independence County authorities say two inmates who walked away from the Independence County Recycling Center have been recaptured. A sheriff's dispatcher said Saturday that 21-year-old Kyle McTigue and 28-year-old Michael Bryant are back in custody but that she had no other details. Authorities had said the two were being held on misdemeanor charges and were working off fines by working at the recycling center in Batesville ...

ATF agent arrested for driving while intoxicated LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent in Arkansas has been charged with driving while intoxicated while driving a government-owned vehicle. An Arkansas State Police trooper arrested 37-year-old John Norris on July 25 in Sherwood on charges of DWI, refusing to submit to alcohol testing, driving the wrong way on a one-way road and driving with a defective taillight. Little Rock ATF field office he...

Woman admits setting fires at LR apartment complex LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A Little Rock woman has pleaded guilty to two arson charges in connection with fires that were set at a Little Rock apartment complex between February and June 2013 and resulted in injuries to two firefighters. Lacey Rae Moore entered the pleas Friday in federal court in Little Rock as part of a plea bargain in which prosecutors dropped six other charges and said they would recommend a 12-year prison sentence. A sentencing d...

Counterfeit bills quickly changing hands in Conway CONWAY (AP) — Merchants and shoppers have been encouraged to examine their money after a recent surge of counterfeit bill circulation in central Arkansas. The Log Cabin Democrat reported many counterfeit bills have changed hands and been passed successfully in Conway throughout the past few days. A Conway detective says fake bills are fairly easy to spot through close examination. He says most of the counterfeit money has been printed on offic...

Police arrest 2 men on drug charges SEARCY (AP) — Police say they've arrested two Arkansas men on several felony charges, including possession of drugs and firearms. The Daily Citizen reported Jonathan Blaine Spivey, 22, was arrested Wednesday during a traffic stop in White County. Police say they then learned Spivey's driver's license was suspended and searched his vehicle. They say they found methamphetamine and a semi-automatic handgun. Spivey faces two drug charges and one d...

Driver charged for illegal transport TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — Federal authorities have charged a Guatemalan man arrested in Arkansas with transporting people who are in the country without legal permission. The Texarkana Gazette reported Isaias Elias-Pelico was transporting at least seven passengers when he was pulled over July 24. Court documents state Elias-Pelico presented a fake driver's license to a trooper. The officer contacted the Department of Homeland Security. Elias-Peli...

Court date set for 10-month-old's motherDANVILLE — Brooke Floyd is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Yell County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a felony, and hindering apprehension or prosecution, a misdemeanor in connection with her husband and son found dead Tuesday in the mountains after they were reported missing for four days. Brooke, 21, was released on a $50,000 bond after appearing in felony bond hearings in Yell Cou...

Cities to answer state's want ad for new prison LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Cities and counties throughout Arkansas are deciding whether to contend for a proposed $100 million maximum-security prison, which would bring to town hundreds of new jobs but also some of the state's most difficult inmates. The Arkansas Department of Correction has given communities until Oct. 24 to submit paperwork if they want to host the new prison, which officials say is needed to accommodate the fast-growing inmate pop...

Two arrested in disturbanceThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) arrested two people Wednesday night in connection with a physical disturbance. Brock Webster, 25, and Allison Nichole McNeese, 25, were charged with aggravated robbery and battery in the second degree, according to a news release. Around 5:58 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a physical disturbance call at 1320 E. Main St., RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said in the release. An Internet s...

Bond Hearings (July 30, 2014)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Sept. 8 in Circuit Court. • Giau Nguyen, 52, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia — $20,000. On Friday, Arkansas State Police (ASP) troopers found Nguyen in possession of more than 19...

2 plead guilty to federal drug conspiracy charge LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal prosecutor says two men with ties to a drug cartel have pleaded guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to transport cocaine from Mexico to Little Rock for distribution in central Arkansas. U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyer says Mohammed Kazam Martinez pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. His brother, Homar Martinez, pleaded gui...

Bond Hearings (July 28, 2014)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Sept. 8 in Circuit Court. • Chris Taylor, 26, theft by receiving, criminal mischief and fleeing — $10,000. On June 18, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to reports of a stolen all-terrain vehicle. On July 21, PSCO responded to ...

3 arrested in beating death in Booneville BOONEVILLE (AP) — Authorities say three suspects have been arrested for the beating death of a man in Booneville who witnesses say was pulled from his car and attacked. Logan County sheriff's officials and Booneville police say the three are being held in connection with the death of 41-year-old Gregory Kennedy of Booneville. Investigators told reporters that witnesses saw Kennedy pulled from his car Tuesday afternoon and beaten. The witnesses...

Bond hearingsThe following individual appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. His name, age, anticipated charge and bond amount is listed. If charged, he will appear Sept. 8 in Circuit Court. • Timothy Evenson, 38, failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and felon in possession of a firearm — $40,000. Evenson reportedly failed to "come in ...

Board seeks proposals for new prison ENGLAND (AP) — The board overseeing Arkansas correctional facilities voted Friday to seek proposals from communities willing to host a new $100 million, 1,000-bed maximum-security prison. The Arkansas Board of Corrections agreed to accept requests for the next 90 days in hopes of firming up a plan before next January's legislative session, when the Department of Correction will ask for funding to build the new prison. The board has approved a ...

Bond Hearings (July 23, 2014)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Sept. 8 in Circuit Court. • Daniel Gibson, 27, breaking and entering, burglary and theft of property — $10,000. Between September and October 2013, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) investigated a series of burglary and stolen vehicle...

Man gets 15 years in prison for child porn EL DORADO (AP) — Federal authorities say a 45-year-old El Dorado man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for receiving images of child pornography. Authorities said Wednesday that Shannon Ross Griffin's prison term will be followed by supervised release for life. Court records say investigators executed a search warrant for child pornography at Griffin's home last year. Authorities confiscated two computers and other digital storage devic...

US Mint unveils Marshals Museum coin designs FORT SMITH (AP) — The U.S. Mint has unveiled the designs of the three commemorative coins that will be sold next year to raise money for a planned $50 million U.S. Marshals Museum in western Arkansas. The coins, which honor the contributions of the U.S. Marshals Service, were unveiled Wednesday at the Justice Department in Washington. The U.S. Mint will begin selling the coins in January, ahead of the planned 2017 opening of the new museum. Or...